"We've got to start better"

Defender Connor Goldson said the Town looked “a completely different team” in the second-half after a poor first period allowed Port Vale to gain a significant foothold in an eventual 3-1 defeat at Vale Park.

Town trailed 2-0 at the break after a lackadaisical opening, but a rampant second-half display and a 59th minute Liam McAlinden goal, made a draw look likely, until Vale secured victory in injury time as Town pressed.

“We had a lot of chances second half – we looked a completely different team,” said Goldson.

“First half we sat back and invited pressure and second half we actually put the pressure on them and we were the better team by far.

“I think we let them come onto us too much in the first half and we can’t do that in games like this, or any game in this division.

“We’ve got to start better. We’re giving away goals too early and knocking ourselves out of the game. It’s ok coming out and attacking in the second half, but by then the game is almost lost.”

Town have yet to win away from home this season, and indeed since March, and Goldson is puzzled by the team’s troubles on their travels.

“It’s one of those where you come away from home and the crowd is against you and we can’t put our finger on it – but we need to start winning games, home and away. We need to start getting points on the board and that’s what we want.”

Town now face a crucial double-header, at home, against Notts County and Oldham and Goldson is targeting nothing less than two wins in the now vital fixtures.

“We’re definitely still confident. We’ve got two home games now, and the last home game we beat Sheffield United.

“We’ve got two teams to play now who are near the bottom so we’re hopeful of getting six points to move up the league, and I know we can do it if we play well.”